Control apparatus



Patented F eb.` 12, 1924.

.UNITED srATEs ARTHUR J'. HALL, PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, pASSIGNOR T0 WESTINGHOUSE l ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.v

CONTROL APPARATUS.

To 0N zrlmm z'z may C011 cem Be it known that I, ARTHUR J. HALL, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and a resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny Mand State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Control Apparatus. of which thev following is a specification.

My invention relates to control apparatus and particularly to unit switches for use in electric railway systems and the like.

One object of my invention is to provide 'a simple and reliable device, of the aboveindicated character which shall efectively dissipate the arcs that are formed between the separating contact members, with a minimum degree of deterioration of the apparatus.

More specifically stated, the object of my invention'is to provide a unit switch comprising a stationary and a movable contact member, two blowout coils alined with the contact members and located on opposite sides thereof, together with a barrier of insulating material disposed opposite the contact members to split or divide the above-mentioned arcs. which thereupon are carried along removable conducting shields .for the blowout coils and are effectively dissipated. Y

My invention may bestl be understood by reference to the -accompanying drawing, wherein- Figure 1 is a view, in side elevation, with parts removed. of a switch constructed in accordance with my present invention.

Fir'. 2 is a sectional view taken along at@ 151@ itt-II 0f Fig. 1. a

Referring to thedrawing. the apparatus here shown comprises a stationary contact member 1; a co-operatingymovable contact member 2; a pair of magnetic blowout coils 3 and 4 which are located in alinement with the contact members on opposite sides thereof: a pair of detachable curved coil shields 5 and 6 for the-blowout coils 3. and 4, respectively; a plurality of terminal members 7 and S for the switch; a suitable arc `chute ortbox 9 and a barrier 10 of insulating material that isvlocated substantlally opposite the contact members 1 and 2.

The stationaryc'ontact member 1 is prof vided with an arcingtip or horn 15 of a familiar type, the two members being electrically secured to a conducting blockf or terminal 17 which, in turn, is' mounted upon a slab or bar 18l of insulating material by means of a suitable bolt and nut 19. One end 20 of the strap conductor comprisingv the blowout coil 3 is also secured to the bolt 19, the bther end of the coil being likewise attached to a bolt 21 that extends through the insulating slab 18 and to the outer end of which Yis' secured the.

terminal member 7 for receiving a wire o conductor from the external circuit.

The movable contact member 2 is also provided with an arcing tip or 'horn 16 and is associated with the blowout-coil 4 and the exterior terminal member in a manner similar to that just described. In addition, a suitable flexible shunt member 25 is secured tothe parts ofthe movable contact device in a. familiar manner, and an voperating rod or stem" 26 is provided for the purpose of effecting contact of the movable member 2 with the stationary member 1. Since the Aparticular structure that is employed for this purpose since the general type of movable cont-act device that is illustrated is familiar in the art, I do not deem it necessary to provide further description.

The blowout coil 3 comprises a plurality of convolutions 28 of strap copper, or the like, that are wound around a magnetizable. core member 29. A plurality of'reinforcing plates 30 of asbestos-board, or other similar insulatingmaterial, are located on the respect-ive sides of the blowout coil, the entire combination @of apparatus beingf assembled by means of a plurality of screws 31 and 32 that extend intoa ltapped open-l ing of the oore member 29.

The blowout coil 4 is similarly constructed and arranged, and no further description is believed to be required.

Each of the conducting coil shields/5 and 6 comprises a. `flat metallic strip that follow'swthe general contour of the associated blowout icoil for' approximately threefourths' of the coils circumference and has one end suitably secured to the conducting block 17'l by 'means of a.,f small screw 35, while the other end is fianged andv secured by a screw 37 toe another block or stud 36 on the opposite side of the blowout coil, which stud is suitably attached tothe insulating slab 18. y

The conducting .guidemembers 5 and are thus simple and inexpensive in construction and may be readily replaced when burned or pitted by the arcs that are formed between the separating contact members l and 2.

The arc chute or box-9 is of a familiar` general type, being composed of asbestos lumber, or the like, for the purpose of suitably enclosing the unit-switch apparatus and guiding the dissipating arcs in the proper direction. Y

The barrier l0 may be composed of soapstone or similar material and has a beveled edge located in proximity to the Contact members l and 2. The barrier may readily be secured to the arc chute 9 by means of screwsor the like. .f

The operation of the illustrated apparatus may be brietly set forthl as follows. Assuming that 'the movable contact member 2 has been actuated to its closed position, namely, in contact with the stationary member l, to conduct current from the terminal 7. Jfor example, through the blowout coil the-contact members 1 and 2 and the blowout coil 4 to the other terminal 8, then, upon separation of the contact members during the opening of the switch, an arc is produced and, in the present instance, this arc, which is `inductively quenched in a well-known manner by means of the two blowout coils 3 and 4, is split or divided bv the insulating barrier 10, the vparts or divisions of the u arc then respectively ollowing, or being guidedalong, the conducting paths provided by the arcing tip le in conjunction with the conducting coil shield 5 and the arcing horn 16, together with the conducting coil shield 6. In this way, the arcs formed by the opening of the contact membersv of the switch are splitup and quickly dissipated, with a minimum degree of deterioration to the apparatus, since the coil shields 5 and 6 may be readily and inexpensively renewed whenever desired.

`I do not wish to be restricted to the specific structural details or arrangement of parts herein set forth as various modilications thereof may be made without departing from the spirit and "scope of my invention I desire, therefore,`that only such limitations shall be imposed thereupon as are indicated in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a plurality of relatively movable contact members, of plural means respectively located on opposite sides thereof and in proximity thereto for inductivel quenching the arcs formed between said members, means for guiding said arcs around said quenching means, and means, secured to .said contact members, for conducting portions of said arcs into close proximity to the respective guiding means.

2. The combination with a plurality of 3. The combination with-a plurality vof relatively movable contact members, of plural r.means respectively located on .opposite rsides of said members for quenching the arcs formed between them, means interposed in the path of said arcs for effecting division thereof, and means for guiding the port-ions of the split arcs around the respective parts of said plural means.

4. The combination with a plurality of relatively movable contact members, of

plural means respectively located on opposite sides of said members for quenching the arcs formed between them, a member of insulating material interposed in the path of said arcs for effecting division thereof, and conducting 4members for `guiding the portions of the split arcs around the respective parts of said lural means.

5. The combination with a plurality of relatively movable contact members, of a plurality `of magnetic blowout coils respectively located on opposite sides thereof and in proximity thereto for quenching the arcs formed between said members, means comprising conducting shields for said coilsfor jointly dissipating said arcs, and means secured'to said contact members for directing portions of said arcs toward the respective conducting shields.

6. The combination with a plurality of relatively movable contact members, of a plurality of magnetic blowout coils located in proximity tothe respective contact menibers for quenching the arcs formed therebetween, means comprisinglconducting shields for said coils for dissipating said arcs in lll opposite directions, and means secured to said contact members for directing portions` of said arcs toward the respective conducting shields. Y

The combination with a plurality of relatively movable contact members, of a plurality of ma net ic blowout coils located on o' posite si es of said members for quenc ing the arcs formed between them, means disposed opposite the contactv members in the path of'said arcs for effecting division thereof, and means for guiding portions of the split arcs around said coil.

8. The combination with a plurality of relatively movable contact members, of a plurality of magnetic blowout coils for quenching the arcs formed between said members, means disposed opposite the conlll tact members in the path of said arcs for effecting division thereof, and conducting means for guiding the portions of the split arcs around the respective coils.

9. The combination with a plurality of` relatively movable contact members, of a plurality of magnetic blowout coils alined with the contact members on opposite sides thereof to quench arcs formed therebetween, a barrier of insulating material located opposite the contact members in the path of said arcs for effecting division thereof, and means, comprising conducting shields for said coils for dissipating the portions of the split arcs in opposite directions.

10. The combination with a. plurality of relatively movable Contact members, of a plurality of magnetic blowout coils located near the contact members on the respective sides thereof to quench arcs formed therebetween, means comprising conductlng members fully shielding said coils fromsaid arcs and adapted to dissipate such arcs, and means secured to said Contact member to direct portions of said arcs toward the respective conducting members.

11. The combination with a plurality of relativel movable contact members, of a plurality ofy magnetic blowout coils located near the contact members on the respective sides thereof to quench arcs formed therebetween,

supporting members of insulating material `for the respective sets of contact members and coils, and means comprising conducting shields secured to said supporting members and co-operating therewith to completely surround the respective coils.

. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 19th day of Feb., 1919.

ARTHUR J. HALL. 

